University of Chicago returning ancient tablets to Iran
CHICAGO -- Three hundred ancient clay tablets that help provide information on the languages and daily life in the Persian empire are headed back to Iran in what University of Chicago officials have described as the first U.S. return of loaned Iranian artifacts since the Islamic Revolution.

Plays put everyone on stage
Featuring more than a little bit of its drama students, the Augusta Mini Theatre's annual spring show, A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That - Keep Reaching for Your Dreams, opens Friday at the Jack B. Patrick Technology Center at Augusta Technical College.

'The Wiz' puts an urban spin on 'Oz'
The scene is familiar: A wizard, of the negligibly great and powerful variety, loads himself into a balloon and bids farewell to the emerald city he has called home.

Latest area birth announcements
Camri Joyce Murphy: Ronnie and Bonnie Murphy, of Augusta, announce the birth of a daughter, Camri Joyce Murphy, Monday, March 29, 2004, at St. Joseph Hospital. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Lair and Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Murphy, all of Hephzibah, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Agerton, of Augusta.

Odds and Ends
BOWLER, Wis. -- It seemed all too familiar when Mike Rickert pitched a no-hitter for Bowler High School.

ASU seeks bonds for expansion
Augusta State University has asked Richmond County economic developers to help arrange $35 million in tax-free bonds to finance the building of a student activities center and its first off-campus housing community.

Toyota remains on top in vehicle quality
DETROIT -- The average quality of new cars and trucks improved significantly in the past year, but no one fared better than once-suspect Korean brands, which for the first time topped domestic and European automakers in initial quality, according to a closely watched study of 2004 models released Wednesday.

Economy grows at 4.2 percent rate in first quarter of 2004
WASHINGTON -- The economy grew at an annual rate of 4.2 percent in the opening quarter of 2004, a solid showing and fresh evidence that the business recovery is solidly on track. But the performance wasn't the blowout that some analysts wanted.

Limited edition soups test marketed
Campbell's is test-marketing labels based on the colorful silk-screens Andy Warhol designed in the early 1960's. The Limited Edition 4-packs of Campbell's Tomato Soup are available at Giant Eagle supermarkets in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and parts of West Virginia.

U.S. Mint considers replacing Sacagawea on dollar coin
WASHINGTON -- Putting the faces of U.S. presidents on dollar coins would entice collectors, but there still would be challenges in getting the coins into cash registers and people's pockets, the chief of the U.S. Mint said Wednesday.

Business briefs
The jobless rate in Augusta fell one-tenth of a percentage point in March to 4.3 percent as the number of jobs increased by 300, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Qatari minister: OPEC to discuss price band hike
PARIS -- Ministers from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries are likely to discuss a possible increase in their targeted prices for crude when they meet next in June, Qatar's oil minister said Thursday.

Hephzibah grad signs Titans deal
Ben Troupe won't be the only local among the incoming rookie crop with the Tennessee Titans this year. Hephzibah's Brandon Lynch signed a free agent contract Monday with the Titans.

Hole left in Georgia
Every now and then a man dies who leaves a huge hole in his community. Fred Davison, University of Georgia president from 1967 to 1986, who succumbed to cancer Wednesday at age 74 in Augusta, was such a man. His passing is a great loss.

Wasted energy
We, along with many other supporters of open government and the public's right to know, are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will rule against the Bush administration's bid not to disclose members of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force.

What to do with them?
Should the government be forced to either put on trial or release Jose Padilla and Yaser Esam Hamdi?

Donald Trump proposes to girlfriend
NEW YORK -- There's a new member of Donald Trump's "A-Team." Following Ivana and Marla, model Melania Knauss became engaged this week to the billionaire developer, Trump spokesman Norma Foerderer said Thursday.

Open tab
Ready for a night on the town? Here's a roundup of some drink specials and entertainment at Augusta and Aiken nightclubs:

People in the News
BURBANK, Calif. -- Ellen DeGeneres swears she's not going to do another standup tour.

On the road
Since 1979, the Human Rights Festival has featured exhibits and speeches by political activities, but the primary attraction has been a gaggle of local bands. This year is no exception, with music punctuated with speeches on Saturday and Sunday in downtown Athens.

Twins get a star on Walk of Fame
Mary-Kate Olsen, left, and her twin sister Ashley Olsen touch their new star after a dedication ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 29, 2004.

Stuff to do
Augusta will put its no-longer-so-secret resource, the Augusta Canal, on display Saturday during the 17th annual Augusta Canal Cruise and Cookout. The event features a canoe, kayak or bicycle cruise, capped off by a barbecue picnic.

Rates on 30-year mortgages climb above 6 percent
WASHINGTON -- Rates on 30-year mortgages climbed above 6 percent this week for the first time in 2004 as more signs of an improving economy triggered concerns about what impact the stronger growth will have on inflation.

Exxon Mobil revenue rises on higher oil prices
DALLAS -- Exxon Mobil Corp.'s first-quarter profits fell 23 percent from a year ago, when the company had a huge gain from the sale of its stake in a German pipeline company. Revenue rose 6 percent on higher oil prices, and the company's profit beat Wall Street expectations.

Stocks drop after latest GDP reading
NEW YORK -- Stocks tumbled in a late afternoon selloff Thursday after a lower-than-expected gross domestic product figure failed to ease investor fears about interest rates. The Dow Jones industrials fell 70 points, giving it a two-day drop of more than 200, and all three major indexes fell to their lowest levels in more than a month.

Energizer earnings up sharply
ST. LOUIS -- Earnings for Energizer Holdings Inc. rose 62 percent in the company's second quarter thanks in large part to the acquisition last year of the Schick-Wilkinson Sword razor business.

Time Warner net doubles on film, TV divisions
NEW YORK -- Time Warner Inc., the world's largest media company, reported Wednesday that its first quarter profits more than doubled from the same period a year ago, powered by stronger results in its film and television divisions.

Google files its long-awaited IPO plans
SAN FRANCISCO -- Internet search engine leader Google Inc. filed its long-awaited IPO plans Thursday, setting the stage for the company to make its stock market debut - a move that could still be months away.

Money funds fell in latest week
NEW YORK -- Assets of the nation's retail money market mutual funds fell by $8.83 billion in the latest week to $859.27 billion, the Investment Company Institute said Thursday.

Fishing tournament news
Sponsoring a bass, crappie, catfish or other fishing tournament? Mail or fax your flyer or information to Fishing Editor, The Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, Ga. 30903-1928. Fax number: (706) 823-3408. Tournament reports must include first and last names of the participants, total numbers of fish and total weight of the catch.

If Martinez man saw the fish, he caught them
"If I was you, I'd show up," professional bass fisherman Craig Johnson told wife, Crystal, his No. 1 supporter, Saturday before the Bass Fishing League tournament weigh-in at Mistletoe State Park on Strom Thurmond Lake.

Rose pruning is neither special nor difficult
Pruning a rose bush need not be complicated. The rose, after all, is just another flowering shrub, albeit one that inspires poets and painters, the formation of societies, and an undue amount of words on "special" pruning needs. Despite the fanfare, a rose responds to pruning as does any other shrub.

Setting good bugs against bad bugs in the garden
NEW MARKET, Va. -- I have this neighbor, an organic gardener, who is fond of saying there are only two kinds of bugs in the world: the bad kind and the good kind. Bad bugs, she says, feed on garden vegetables. Good bugs don't.

When to prune plants and trees
During winter, trees and shrubs are in a sleepy dormant state, but by spring they wake up and bring forth another season of greenery and color. If you want the best-looking flora and fauna on your block, its time to do some pruning.

GreenJackets' bats come alive
The Augusta GreenJackets finally put everything together Wednesday night, even if there wasn't much of a crowd to witness it.

Pair of veterans take early lead
NEW ORLEANS - Gene Sauers of Savannah, Ga., and Paul Azinger - who between them have just two victories over the past decade - shared the clubhouse lead in Thursday's rain-delayed first round of the $5.1 million HP Classic.

Golf excursion in Augusta was rough
I invited three of my customers to join me for a round of golf before watching a practice round at the Masters Tournament. The Web site for one particular course in Augusta was nice, so I called to inquire about the layout, condition and fee.
Harvey Eden, Concord, N.C.

Goodwill appreciates area support
More than 8 million Americans are out of work, and their families are facing tough times. At Goodwill Industries, we know that the most effective way to help people is by providing them with the means to earn a paycheck and support their families long-term.
James K. Stiff, Macon (Editor's note: The writer is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA.)

Medical students thank body donors
To the families of those who have generously donated their bodies to the Medical College of Georgia: We, the Class of 2007, would like to express our appreciation and gratitude for the gift made to us by your relatives who donated their bodies so that we could gain a greater understanding of medicine.
The Class of 2007, Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine (Editor's note: The writer, Frances Casey, is a freshman at the Medical College of Georgia.)

Be a cheerleader for nuclear power
Why doesn't The Augusta Chronicle publish a series of articles on how the United States could help reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil by building more nuclear power plants to make electricity instead of burning costly imported oil from overseas?
Steve R. Smith, Evans (Editor's note: The Chronicle has written on and supported nuclear power for decades - most recently in our April 12 editorial calling for constructing a new Plant Vogtle in Burke County.)

Ex-administrator supports Phil Clarke
I'm writing to support Phil Clarke for Aiken County coroner. During my nine years as county administrator, I was privileged to work with Phil in his position as county coordinator of Emergency Medical Services and as a senior member of the county's Emergency Management Team.
Bill Shepherd, Satellite Beach, Fla. (Editor's note: The writer is a former Aiken County administrator.)

Think of wounded troops coming home
What becomes of the thousands of wounded troops in Iraq and Afganistan? It seems like more and more are returning and then forgotten about except by their families. For most of them, their lives will never be the same.
William French, Hephzibah

China's mini-outbreak of SARS widens
BEIJING -- Investigators targeted a southeastern province Thursday in their efforts to determine whether SARS emerged from a Beijing laboratory and made its way into the Chinese heartland, contributing to the latest eruption of the pernicious disease.

Health and fitness calendar
The health and fitness calendar is a listing of support groups, activities and lectures. Send information to Health Calendar, The Augusta Chronicle Newsroom, P.O. Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903.

Increasing violence among girls catches educators unprepared
BALTIMORE -- Twelve-year-old Nicole Townes is out of a coma but still struggling to recover after being pummeled and stomped at a birthday party in a beating that was shocking not just because of its savagery, but because it was meted out by other girls.

Some straight couples choose domestic partnership over marriage
CHICAGO -- As same-sex couples fight for their right to marry, some straight couples - who could marry if they wanted to - are deciding against it. Instead, they're registering as "domestic partners," an option offered by some cities and counties, mainly with gay and lesbian couples in mind.

County funds city fire service
AIKEN - County residents who live within the city of Aiken's fire district pay hundreds of dollars a year for protection, but that doesn't necessarily equate savings on their homeowners' insurance, a cost comparison shows.

Rants and raves
ATTENTION, GROCERY store shoppers. Do you see those lines painted on the asphalt? You're supposed to place your car within those lines, not anywhere where you please. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Remember that.

Across Georgia
ATLANTA - A federal judge has delayed the May 1 start of a tough new Georgia law against payday loans, high-interest notes that critics say take advantage of consumers living paycheck to paycheck.

Cheeks qualifies for new District 22 race
ATLANTA - Sen. Don Cheeks officially threw his hat into the race for the newly-configured Senate District 22 on Wednesday, placing his name on the ballot for this summer's Republican primary election.

Probe of crashed chopper begins
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Army investigators could spend three days at the South Carolina riverbank where an attack helicopter crashed, killing three crew members, a spokesman said Wednesday.

MCG considers hospital partnerships
Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics might begin exporting its expertise in certain services to other hospitals even as it strives to increase its market share.

Attorney general gets debris removal case
One year after the old Augusta Hotel collapsed on Broad Street, a dispute between the lot's owner and the Environmental Protection Division concerning the removal of the debris, which contains asbestos, is still unsettled.

Kolb applies for Florida job
Augusta City Administrator George Kolb has applied for the city manager's position in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and now is among the top seven candidates for the job.

Rants and rave
AUGUSTA NEEDS new leadership. Go to Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Also take a look at Savannah in the county and the Atlanta suburbs. Take a look at Charleston and Charlotte. Augusta, wake up. A new day is needed urgently. Clean up the total city. Stop arguing, and do something today. Get new leadership, all of them. Start over!

Around town
Jazz singer Kari Gaffney sings with accompanist Jeff Williams during the Downtown Lunch Date concert series at Augusta Common. The series will continue every Wednesday through June.

Council spars over center
AIKEN - Aiken County Councilman Willar Hightower has taken a hard-line stance in support of a black history cultural center and museum and has threatened to campaign against the proposed renewal of the county's 1-cent sales tax unless the project receives support.

Rants and raves
ATTENTION, GROCERY store shoppers. Do you see those lines painted on the asphalt? You're supposed to place your car within those lines, not anywhere where you please. Driving is a privilege, not a right. Remember that.

Second Circuit judge is sworn in
BAMBERG - Before an audience that included two state supreme court justices, four federal judges and eight state judges, Doyet Arnold "Jack" Early was sworn in Thursday as the newest judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

Kolb job news is no shock to panel
Augusta commissioners and Mayor Bob Young said Thursday they weren't surprised to hear that City Administrator George Kolb had applied for the city manager's job in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Across South Carolina
COLUMBIA - A 250-year-old canoe that might have been dug out of a single log by Cherokees or early European settlers will be preserved after it was found in the Chattooga River in Oconee County.

Correction
An article in Wednesday's editions of The Augusta Chronicle on a proposal that towns in Aiken County's Midland Valley band together under one government misrepresented a quote by Sharon Gagnon. When saying her group wants to incorporate the area under a "nonbiased" name, Mrs. Gagnon, the chairwoman of the Committee to Unite Midland Valley, meant towns would not have to give up their names to be included.

Catch of the day
Firefighters responded at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday to the Fish & More restaurant on Wheeler Road. Battalion Chief Ivan Bolgla, of the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department, said grease in a fryer caught on fire. No one was injured, and there was no major damage, he said.

Pickin' the tunes
AIKEN - The only thing more beautiful than the ornate, hand-crafted German fiddle that the Rev. Olin Sizemore holds in his hands is the cascade of notes he evokes with short jabs of a bow rushing over the steel strings.

Across the area
Burke County school officials said they have resolved a matter involving a principal and teacher who were suspended after being accused of allowing a convicted sex offender to participate in school activities earlier this month.

Future is open at Augusta Tech
Students moved from cramped to comfortable at Augusta Technical College with Thursday's dedication of the $8.4 million student services and classroom buildings.

Inquiry into shooting at jail continues
COLUMBIA - An Allendale County prison remains on lockdown as Corrections Department investigators continue to look for the weapon used to shoot two inmates earlier this month.

Law says 12-year-old gets tried as juvenile
CARROLLTON, Ga. - A 12-year-old boy accused of strangling his 8-year-old neighbor will not be charged as an adult and could only be sentenced to two years in prison, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Big sting nets 2 drug arrests
Richmond County sheriff's investigators arrested two men in what they said was the largest marijuana bust in more than a decade, officials said Thursday.

Kid of the day
Today's kid of the day is Zykevious Tremel Grant, 2, of Augusta.

Across Georgia
ATLANTA - A fight over how to pay for lawyers for poor people was resolved Thursday, meaning a looming special session of the Legislature should wrap up without much debate.

Police charge 2 men with burglary
Two Augusta men were charged early Wednesday morning with breaking into Family Y vehicles and into a man's residence, authorities said.

Across the area
A Warrenville woman told North Augusta Department of Public Safety officers that someone took $1,000 in cash from her.

Ex-UGA leader dies of cancer
No matter what he was involved in, Fred C. Davison always seemed to lead. And he did it by example with his character, energy and faith, friends and family said.

Police chief reports acts of harassment
AIKEN - New Ellenton's black police chief, who has been on paid leave since Feb. 6 for allegations of misconduct, says he has been repeatedly harassed at his home and was forced to call police after someone smashed the windshield of his car.

Kolb is finalist for job
Augusta City Administrator George Kolb has applied for the city manager position in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and is among the top seven candidates for the job.

News you can use
April 29, 1923 Augusta architect G. Lloyd Preacher has been awarded a contract to draw plans for a $4 million tourist hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla., which will be, the St. Petersburg Times reports, the finest resort hotel in the world.The hotel, to be called the Vinol, will have its own refrigerating, lighting and heating plants, inside and outside swimming pools, bath houses, theater, casino, amusement pavilion and yacht club.

Man is at MCG after beating
An Augusta man was recuperating in a local hospital Wednesday after being beaten unconscious by three people this week.

Train depot plan gets off track
A move to renovate the old Augusta train depot at Fifth and Reynolds streets has hit a roadblock, but Chris Naylor says it has only been delayed, not derailed.

City homes in on code violations
Tice Brashear says that for more than 15 years he had asked Augusta officials to force a cleanup at an abandoned, dilapidated building that abuts his realty company on Broad Street.

Confident country singer to star at festival
Blessed with a booming bass voice and a history right out of one of his own songs, Trace Adkins, who performs Sunday at the Day in the Country festival, is secure in his success - mostly.

Young artists take the spotlight at Dove Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A new wave of Christian artists dominated the 34th annual Gospel Music Association Awards, with MercyMe, Switchfoot, Stacie Orrico and Jeremy Camp among the big winners Wednesday night.

Top 20 Concert Tours
The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

New engines get passing grade from drivers
INDIANAPOLIS -- Pulling out of the pits for the first time Wednesday, Scott Dixon could tell his car wasn't accelerating as it had during the Indy Racing League's first three races.

Lineup grows for race in May
FONTANA, Calif. - NASCAR has changed the rules for May's Nextel All-Star Challenge to expand the starting lineup and do away with the eliminations after the first two segments.

NASCAR newsmaker Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson loves racing at California Speedway because it's only 90 minutes from his home in El Cajon. Racing at California, where he won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, not only means a lot of friends and family are in the stands, it means he can finally get some home-cooked meals - burritos - delivered to the track every day.

Heat-Hornets series now best-of-3
MIAMI -- The Miami Heat's vast arena has been half empty at times this season, creating a library-like atmosphere that would provide a home-court advantage only if opponents were lulled to sleep.

Detectives testify in Bryant case
EAGLE, Colo. - Two detectives who spoke with Kobe Bryant shortly after he was accused of rape testified behind closed doors Wednesday on the final day of a three-day hearing.

Celtics hire Doc Rivers as coach
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics coaching job was only open a few hours when Danny Ainge decided that Doc Rivers was the guy he wanted.

Kobe Bryant to enter plea May 10 in assault case
EAGLE, Colo. -- The judge in the Kobe Bryant case said Wednesday the NBA star will formally enter a plea in his high-profile sexual assault case during a three-day hearing that starts May 10.

Anthony still unsure if he'll play in Game 5
DENVER -- Denver Nuggets star rookie Carmelo Anthony tested his sprained left knee with a light workout Thursday, though he's still not sure if he'll be ready for Game 5 against Minnesota.

Sacramento shocker: Defense ruling Mavs-Kings series
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- When this playoff series began, defense seemed certain to be a dirty word. After all, the Mavericks and the Kings were the NBA's two highest-scoring teams - and usually two of the most indifferent on the other end of the court.

Olympic security budget hits $1.2 billion
ATHENS, Greece -- The security budget for the Athens Olympics has climbed to $1.2 billion, nearly four times what was spent protecting the Sydney Games four years ago.

12-year-old makes U.S. Freestyle Team
PARK CITY, Utah -- Twelve-year-old Rachael Pack became the youngest member ever selected to the U.S. Ski Team when she made the "C" freestyle roster for the 2004-05 season.

On the right track
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Cot Campbell knows firsthand that if you give a horse a try, anything can happen.

Horse show draws Canadian family
Alan and Sherry Chesler used to show horses in competitions similar to the Aiken Spring Classic Horse Show, which started Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

Jockeys hint at Kentucky Derby boycott
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jockeys John Valazquez and Jose Santos said Wednesday they might not ride in the Kentucky Derby if a federal judge bars them from wearing ads on their pants.

Imperialism stays on routine
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Imperialism worked a quarter-mile in 24.8 seconds at Churchill Downs Wednesday as trainer Kristin Mulhall followed the same pattern that got the colt to the Kentucky Derby.

Tillman promoted posthumously by Army
PHOENIX -- Pat Tillman was promoted posthumously from specialist to corporal after the former NFL player was killed while serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan.

Strahan has concerns about Giants next season
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- All-Pro defensive end Michael Strahan has concerns about the future of the New York Giants after the team's decision to waive Kerry Collins and make Eli Manning the starting quarterback.

Rankings for basic cable networks
Rankings for the top 15 programs on basic cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of April 19-25. Each ratings point represents 1,084,000 households. Day and start time (EDT) are in parentheses.

'Nightline' to honor U.S. dead in Iraq war
NEW YORK -- Ted Koppel will devote the entire half-hour of "Nightline" Friday to reading names and showing photographs of the more than 500 U.S. servicemen and women killed in action in Iraq, ABC announced Wednesday.

Films take look at Russain society
In my childhood it seemed every May 1 evening newscast would feature footage of May Day celebrations beamed to network news from the heart of Moscow. It's odd, because to this day, I don't associate maypoles or spring celebrations with May Day, but rumbling tanks with red stars rolling past the Kremlin.

DVD reflects on shortcomings of 1970s' cinematic revolution
In 1998, film historian Peter Biskin released Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood, a tome that asked its readers to buy an interesting theory - that a failed film revolution began with the success of Bonnie and Clyde and ended as Star Wars ushered in the era of the blockbuster.